by David Hamilton

Created on: May 12, 2008   Last Updated: June 29, 2009

While they have their origins in Malaysia, bananas have come to play a role in healthy diets around the world. Bananas have been mentioned in Buddhist texts dating as far back as the 6th century BC. In more recent history, bananas were served at a celebration marking the 100th anniversary of the American Deceleration of Independence. Over a hundred and fifty years latter, Americans are still enjoying them. Whether eaten as a snack, baked into bread, or blended into pudding the average American consumes over twenty five pounds of bananas each year.

When it comes to the health benefits of bananas the talk often turns to potassium. By providing over 13% of your daily requirement from just one fruit, they are certainly a good source. Potassium intake is often a concern of those in middle age and beyond who are looking for heart health and stable blood pressure. The benefits of the banana however, may show them selves much earlier in life especially if eaten green.

A study published in Digestive Diseases and Sciences looked at the effect of bananas on babies between 5 and 12 months of age. The study showed that a diet rich in green bananas significantly increased the children's ability to absorb nutrients from their food. Green bananas were chosen due the fact that they are especially high in fructooligosaccharide, a chemical compound that is a favored food source of the healthy bacteria in the colon that help the body process nutrients.

A second study reported in the American Journal of Epidemiology looked at the effect of foods on children from the birth to the age of two. The study found that children who consumed bananas early in life faced a lower risk of childhood leukemia when reaching their teen years.

As children grow older and begin expanding their dietary choices to include spicy foods, bananas continue to be their friend. The chemicals in the banana allow them to act as a natural antacid in the short term. An Australian research study showed that over the longer term, bananas can help to protect against the formation of ulcers.

Bananas are also a good source of daily fiber providing about 14% of your fiber needs for just over 100 calories worth of fruit. Top a bowl of fiber rich cereal with a fresh cut banana and keep one handy for a mid-morning snack and you will be well on your way to meeting your potassium and fiber needs for the entire day.

Resources/References

http://www.ers.usda.gov/publicat ions/FTS/Yearbook04/Tables.pdf

http://www.whfoods.com /genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=7

http://www.ncbi.n lm.nih.gov/pubmed/2744353?dopt=Abstract

http://www.nu tritiondata.com/facts-C00001-01c20Tm.html

http://www. banana.com/

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